Time is Running Out

Chapter 40

Emma walked along the corridor in what she supposed, no, hoped, was a confident way. She was just hoping she wouldn't meet any other guards when her wish was denied…

"Mornin', Amon," called the guard who had come to take her place guarding "Emma".

Emma was startled even though Aletta had told her that her fake name was Amon.

"Oh, hello," she said nervously, hoping she sounded alright.

Thankfully, the guard smiled and stepped into the cell where Aletta was pretending to be Emma.

Emma breathed out, then hurried along her way.

Well, she would have, if she had not met a whole group of guards. There were about twenty in total, and she definitely would not be able to fight her way through them.

"'Ey, Amon…" One leered at her.

Emma resisted the urge to turn away and run.

"Hi," she said shakily.

"'Ell, I'll see ya 'round," the guard finally said and the group left.

Emma sighed in relief, but it was not long before she met another group.

"Hello, Amon…" the leader spoke.

"Hi," squeaked Emma.

"Ao've you bin?" asked another guard, guffawing at his "joke".  "Don'tcha gitit? Yeh a de bin!"

This guard's accent was hard to understand.

The other guards joined in the laughter.

"Ha-ha," said Emma, trying her best to use an accent. "Look, eve gottah doo an eemportank think ta doo, so…"

"So yah want us tah come weef yoo," said a guard unpleasantly.

"What? No, no, I…" stammered Emma.

The guards continued to back her into the wall.

"No! Please! HELP!" screamed Emma.

"Who'll help yah now…" chuckled a guard.

"I WILL!"

"AND SO WILL I!"

Passing by, Xana and the others had heard Emma's screams.

And so the battle began.

Emma pulled out Aletta's sword and slashed in a wide arc, though it only caused one guard to fall. Rachel made a feeble attempt to draw her dagger but a guard sent it clattering to the floor. Bang! The noise rang loudly. Gemma did her best and the battle almost turned in favour of her.

But more guards arrived and Emma was almost stabbed. Rachel screamed as a guard stabbed her arm. Gemma groaned when a guard almost cut off her leg.

Xana sighed, knowing it was time for her to fight. She pushed the others out of the way.

"What? Ya fink ya can fight uzz on ya own?" a guard jeered.

Xana looked down into his eyes, for she was almost two heads taller than him, so tall was she. "Yes. In fact, I will finish with you, Mathew. Cut the accent. It's stupid."

The guard whom she had addressed was flabbergasted.

Whispers broke among the crowd of guards.

Xana smiled but her eyes remained hard and cold.

"Remember me?" she said sweetly, walking in a circle around the guard-- Mathew.

"W-what?" whispered Mathew. "How do you know--?"